Pope Benedict IX

Head of the Catholic Church variously from 1032 to 1048

Pope

Benedict IX

Bishop of Rome
Church| Catholic Church
Papacy began| October 1032 (first time)
10 March 1045 (second time)
8 November 1047 (third time)
Papacy ended| 20 January 1045 (first time)
1 May 1045 (second time)
17 July 1048 (third time)
Predecessor|

* John XIX (1032)
* Sylvester III (1045)
* Clement II (1047)

Successor|

* Sylvester III (1044)
* Gregory VI (1045)
* Damasus II (1048)

Personal details
Born|

Theophylact of Tusculum (Italian: Teofilatto di Toscolo)

c. 1012

Rome, Papal States

Died| c. December 1055/January 1056 (aged 43)
Grottaferrata, Papal States
Other popes named Benedict
Grant of Robert II of France in favour of Abbaye Notre-Dame de Coulombs (Coulombs, Eure-et-Loir), also signed by Benedict IX

Pope Benedict IX (Latin: Benedictus IX; c. 1012 – c. 1056), born Theophylact of Tusculum in Rome, was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States for three periods between October 1032 and July 1048 (1032–1044; 1045; 1047–1048).[1] Aged about 20 when first elected, he may have been the youngest Pope in the history of the Catholic Church. He is the only person to have been Pope more than once[a] and the only person ever accused of selling the papacy.

Benedict was the nephew of his two immediate predecessors, Benedict VIII and John XIX. In October 1032, Benedict's father obtained his election through bribery. However, his reputedly dissolute activities provoked a revolt on the part of the Romans. Benedict was driven out of Rome and Sylvester III elected to succeed him. Some months later, Benedict and his supporters managed to expel Sylvester. Benedict then decided to resign in favor of his godfather, Gregory VI, provided he was reimbursed for his expenses.

Benedict subsequently had second thoughts, returned, and attempted to depose Gregory VI. A number of prominent clergymen appealed to Henry III, King of the Romans, to restore order. Henry and his forces crossed the Brenner Pass into Italy, where he summoned the Council of Sutri to decide the matter. Benedict IX, Sylvester III, and Gregory VI were all deposed. Henry then had Clement II elected in December 1046.

## Early life

[edit]

Benedict was the son of Count Alberic III of Tusculum.[2] He was closely related to several popes, being a nephew of Benedict VIII and John XIX, grandnephew of John XII, great-grandnephew of John XI, first cousin twice removed of Benedict VII, and possibly a distant relative of Sergius III. His father obtained the papal chair for him by bribing the Romans.[3]

Benedict IX was about twenty when made pontiff in October 1032.[4][5] Other sources state that he was 11 or 12, based upon the unsubstantiated testimony of Rodulfus Glaber, a monk of St. Germanus at Auxerre.[6][5] If Glaber was correct, Benedict IX was the youngest Pope in history. If he was incorrect, that honor may belong to Pope John XII, who was between the ages of 17 and 25 when he was elected.[7][8]

### Family tree

[edit]

Theophylact I, Count of Tusculum| | | | | | Theodora

|
|
|
|
|
|

| | | | |
| | | | | | |
Hugh of Italy| | Marozia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Alda of Vienne| | Alberic II of Spoleto
905–954| | Pope John XI
r. 931–935| | David or Deodatus

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Pope John XII
r. 955–964| | Gregory I, Count of Tusculum| | | | | | Pope Benedict VII
r. 974–983
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Pope Benedict VIII
r. 1012–1024| | Alberic III, Count of Tusculum| | Pope John XIX
r. 1024–1032
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | | | Peter, Duke of the Romans| | Pope Benedict IX
r. 1032–1044, 1045, 1047–1048

## First pontificate (1032–1044)

[edit]

Benedict IX's reign was allegedly "scandalous", and factional strife continued.[9] Ferdinand Gregorovius, wrote that in Benedict, "It seemed as if a demon from hell, in the disguise of a priest, occupied the chair of Peter and profaned the sacred mysteries of religion by his insolent courses."[10] Horace K. Mann called him "a disgrace to the Chair of Peter".[4] Pope Victor III, in his third book of Dialogues, referred to "his rapes, murders and other unspeakable acts of violence and sodomy. His life as a pope was so vile, so foul, so execrable, that I shudder to think of it."[11]

According to Reginald Lane Poole, "In a time of acute political hostility, accusations, as we know too well, are made and are believed, which in a calmer time would never have been suggested."[6] He further suggests the credibility of such accusations was determined by probability rather than proof, and a reaction to the Tusculan hegemony. Poole observes that "we have to wait until he had discredited himself by his sale of the Papacy before we hear anything definite about his misdeeds; and the further we go in time and place, the worse his character becomes". Poole considers Benedict "a negligent Pope, very likely a profligate man",[12] but notes that the picture presented of Benedict is drawn at a time when the party opposed to him was in the ascendant, and he had neither friends nor supporters.[13]

Pope Benedict IX was briefly forced out of Rome in 1036, but returned with the help of Emperor Conrad II, who had expelled the bishops of Piacenza and Cremona from their sees.[9] Bishop Benno of Piacenza accused Benedict of "many vile adulteries and murders".[14] He was accused by Peter Damian in his Liber Gomorrhianus of routine sodomy and bestiality and sponsoring orgies.[15] In September 1044, opposition to Benedict IX's dissolute lifestyle forced him out of the city again and elected Sylvester III to replace him.[9]

## Second pontificate (1045)

[edit]

Benedict IX's forces returned in April 1045 and expelled his rival, allowing Benedict to resume the papacy. Doubting his own ability to maintain his position, and wishing to marry his cousin, Benedict decided to resign in May 1045.[9] He consulted his godfather, the pious priest John Gratian, about the possibility of resigning. He offered to give up the papacy into the hands of his godfather if he would reimburse him for his election expenses.[16] John Gratian paid him the money and was recognized as pope in his stead, as Gregory VI.[4] Peter Damian hailed the change with joy and wrote to the new pope, urging him to deal with the scandals of the church in Italy, singling out the wicked bishops of Pesaro, of Città di Castello and of Fano.[17]

## Third pontificate (1047–1048)

[edit]

19th-century religious card depicting Benedict IX

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Benedict IX soon regretted his resignation and returned to Rome, taking the city and remaining on the throne until July 1046, although Gregory VI continued to be recognized as the true pope. At the time, Sylvester III also reasserted his claim. A number of influential clergy and laity besought Emperor Henry III to cross the Alps and restore order.[4] Henry intervened, and at the Council of Sutri in December 1046, Benedict IX and Sylvester III were declared deposed while Gregory VI was encouraged to resign because the arrangement he had entered into with Benedict was considered simoniacal; that is, to have been paid for. A German, Clement II, was chosen to succeed Gregory VI. Benedict IX had not attended the council and did not accept his deposition.

19th-century illustration of the Council of Sutri

When Clement II died in October 1047, Benedict seized the Lateran Palace in November, again becoming pope, but was driven away by German troops in July 1048. To fill the power vacuum, the German-born Damasus II was elected pope and universally recognized as such. Benedict IX refused to appear on charges of simony in 1049 and was excommunicated.

Benedict IX's eventual fate is obscure, but he seems to have given up his claims to the papal throne. Leo IX may have lifted the ban on him. Benedict IX was buried in the Abbey of Grottaferrata c. 1056. According to the abbot, Saint Bartholomew of Grottaferrata, he was penitent and turned away from the sins he committed as pontiff.

## See also

[edit]

* Liber Gomorrhianus
* List of sexually active popes
* List of youngest bishops
* The Bad Popes

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ John XII was deposed invalidly by Emperor Otto and replaced for a few months by antipope Leo VIII (who later became a legitimate pope after Benedict V accepted his own deposition).

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Coulombe, Charles A. (2003). Vicars of Christ: A History of the Popes. Citadel Press. p. 198\. ISBN 978-0-8065-2370-5.
2. ^ Pham 2004, p. 56.
3. ^ Miranda, Salvador (30 April 2010). "Pope Benedict VIII (1012-1024)". The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. Archived from the original on 15 February 2018.
4. ^ a b c d Mann, Horace (1909). "Pope Gregory VI". Catholic Encyclopedia. 6 - via New Advent.
5. ^ a b Mathis, Agostino (1915). "Il Pontefice Benedetto IX. Appunti critici di storia mediovale". La Civiltà Cattolica. 66 (4): 549–571 - via Google Books.
6. ^ a b Poole, Reginald L. (1917). "Benedict IX and Gregory VI". Proceedings of the British Academy. 8 - via Internet Archive.
7. ^ "Pope John XII - The 130th Pope - PopeHistory.com". popehistory.com. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
8. ^ "John XII | Pope, Death, Roman Catholicism, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 4 May 2025. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
9. ^ a b c d Hauck, Albert (1908). "Benedict IX". The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopædia of Religious Knowledge. 2: 40–41 - via Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
10. ^ Ferdinand Gregorovius (10 June 2010). History of the City of Rome in the Middle Ages. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781108015035.
11. ^ Victor III, Pope (1934), Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Libelli de lite (in Latin) (Dialogi de miraculis Sancti Benedicti Liber Tertius auctore Desiderio abbate Casinensis ed.), Hannover: Deutsches Institut für Erforschung des Mittelalters, p. 141, archived from the original on 15 July 2007, retrieved 3 January 2008, "Cuius vita quam turpis, quam freda, quamque execranda extiterit, horresco referre"
12. ^ Poole 1917, p. 20.
13. ^ Poole 1917, pp. 20–21.
14. ^ “Post multa turpia adulteria et homicidia manibus suis perpetrata, postremo, etc.”Dümmler, Ernst Ludwig (1891), Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Libelli de lite (in Latin), vol. I (Bonizonis episcopi Sutriensis: Liber ad amicum ed.), Hannover: Deutsches Institut für Erforschung des Mittelalters, p. 584, archived from the original on 13 July 2007, retrieved 3 January 2008
15. ^ Damian, Saint Peter (2001). Liber Gomorrhianus: omosessualità ecclesiastica e riforma della Chiesa (in Italian). Edizioni dell'Orso. ISBN 978-88-7694-517-5.
16. ^ Kleinhenz, Christopher (2 August 2004). "Gregory VI". Medieval Italy: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-94880-1.
17. ^ Toke, Leslie (1911). "St. Peter Damian". Catholic Encyclopedia. 11 - via New Advent.

## Sources

[edit]

* Pham, John-Peter (2004). Heirs of the Fisherman : Behind the Scenes of Papal Death and Succession. Oxford University Press.

## External links

[edit]

* Opera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Latina with analytical indexes (in Latin)

Catholic Church titles

Preceded by

John XIX

|  Pope
1032–1044  | Succeeded by

Sylvester III

Preceded by

Sylvester III

|  Pope
1045  | Succeeded by

Gregory VI

Preceded by

Clement II

|  Pope
1047–1048  | Succeeded by

Damasus II

* v
* t
* e

Popes of the Catholic Church

* List of popes
* graphical
* canonised
* Papal names
* Tombs
* extant
* non-extant
* Antipope
* Pope emeritus
* papal resignation
* Pope-elect
* Apocryphal Pope Donus II

1st–4th centuries|

* Peter
* Linus
* Anacletus
* Clement I
* Evaristus
* Alexander I
* Sixtus I
* Telesphorus
* Hyginus
* Pius I
* Anicetus
* Soter
* Eleutherius
* Victor I
* Zephyrinus
* Callixtus I
* Urban I
* Pontian
* Anterus
* Fabian
* Cornelius
* Lucius I
* Stephen I
* Sixtus II
* Dionysius
* Felix I
* Eutychian
* Caius
* Marcellinus
* Marcellus I
* Eusebius
* Miltiades
* Sylvester I
* Mark
* Julius I
* Liberius
* Damasus I
* Siricius
* Anastasius I

5th–8th centuries|

* Innocent I
* Zosimus
* Boniface I
* Celestine I
* Sixtus III
* Leo I
* Hilarius
* Simplicius
* Felix III
* Gelasius I
* Anastasius II
* Symmachus
* Hormisdas
* John I
* Felix IV
* Boniface II
* John II
* Agapetus I
* Silverius
* Vigilius
* Pelagius I
* John III
* Benedict I
* Pelagius II
* Gregory I
* Sabinian
* Boniface III
* Boniface IV
* Adeodatus I
* Boniface V
* Honorius I
* Severinus
* John IV
* Theodore I
* Martin I
* Eugene I
* Vitalian
* Adeodatus II
* Donus
* Agatho
* Leo II
* Benedict II
* John V
* Conon
* Sergius I
* John VI
* John VII
* Sisinnius
* Constantine
* Gregory II
* Gregory III
* Zachary
* Stephen II
* Paul I
* Stephen III
* Adrian I
* Leo III

9th–12th centuries|

* Stephen IV
* Paschal I
* Eugene II
* Valentine
* Gregory IV
* Sergius II
* Leo IV
* Benedict III
* Nicholas I
* Adrian II
* John VIII
* Marinus I
* Adrian III
* Stephen V
* Formosus
* Boniface VI
* Stephen VI
* Romanus
* Theodore II
* John IX
* Benedict IV
* Leo V
* Sergius III
* Anastasius III
* Lando
* John X
* Leo VI
* Stephen VII
* John XI
* Leo VII
* Stephen VIII
* Marinus II
* Agapetus II
* John XII
* Benedict V
* Leo VIII
* John XIII
* Benedict VI
* Benedict VII
* John XIV
* John XV
* Gregory V
* Sylvester II
* John XVII
* John XVIII
* Sergius IV
* Benedict VIII
* John XIX
* Benedict IX
* Sylvester III
* Gregory VI
* Clement II
* Damasus II
* Leo IX
* Victor II
* Stephen IX
* Nicholas II
* Alexander II
* Gregory VII
* Victor III
* Urban II
* Paschal II
* Gelasius II
* Callixtus II
* Honorius II
* Innocent II
* Celestine II
* Lucius II
* Eugene III
* Anastasius IV
* Adrian IV
* Alexander III
* Lucius III
* Urban III
* Gregory VIII
* Clement III
* Celestine III
* Innocent III

13th–16th centuries|

* Honorius III
* Gregory IX
* Celestine IV
* Innocent IV
* Alexander IV
* Urban IV
* Clement IV
* Gregory X
* Innocent V
* Adrian V
* John XXI
* Nicholas III
* Martin IV
* Honorius IV
* Nicholas IV
* Celestine V
* Boniface VIII
* Benedict XI
* Clement V
* John XXII
* Benedict XII
* Clement VI
* Innocent VI
* Urban V
* Gregory XI
* Urban VI
* Boniface IX
* Innocent VII
* Gregory XII
* Martin V
* Eugene IV
* Nicholas V
* Callixtus III
* Pius II
* Paul II
* Sixtus IV
* Innocent VIII
* Alexander VI
* Pius III
* Julius II
* Leo X
* Adrian VI
* Clement VII
* Paul III
* Julius III
* Marcellus II
* Paul IV
* Pius IV
* Pius V
* Gregory XIII
* Sixtus V
* Urban VII
* Gregory XIV
* Innocent IX
* Clement VIII

17th–21st centuries|

* Leo XI
* Paul V
* Gregory XV
* Urban VIII
* Innocent X
* Alexander VII
* Clement IX
* Clement X
* Innocent XI
* Alexander VIII
* Innocent XII
* Clement XI
* Innocent XIII
* Benedict XIII
* Clement XII
* Benedict XIV
* Clement XIII
* Clement XIV
* Pius VI
* Pius VII
* Leo XII
* Pius VIII
* Gregory XVI
* Pius IX
* Leo XIII
* Pius X
* Benedict XV
* Pius XI
* Pius XII
* John XXIII
* Paul VI
* John Paul I
* John Paul II
* Benedict XVI
* Francis
* Leo XIV

History of the papacy|

| Antiquity and Early
Middle Ages|

* During the Roman Empire (until 493)
* Under Constantine (312–337)
* Ostrogothic Papacy (493–537)
* Byzantine Papacy (537–752)
* Frankish Papacy (756–857)
* Saeculum obscurum (904–964)
* Crescentii era (974–1012)

|

High and Late
Middle Ages|

* Tusculan Papacy (1012–1044 / 1048)
* Conflicts with the HRE (1048–1257)
* Wandering Papacy
* Viterbo, 1257–1281
* Orvieto, 1262–1297
* Perugia, 1228–1304
* Avignon Papacy (1309–1378)
* Western Schism (1378–1417)

Early Modern and
Modern Era|

* Renaissance Papacy (1417–1534)
* Reformation Papacy (1534–1585)
* Baroque Papacy (1585–1689)
* Age of Enlightenment (c. 1640–1740)
* Revolutionary Papacy (1775–1848)
* Roman question (1870–1929)
* Vatican City (1929–present)
* World War II (1939–1945)
* Cold War (1945–1991)

* Category
* Portal

* v
* t
* e

Catholic Church

* Index
* Outline
* Glossary
* Lists of Catholics

History
Timeline
Ecclesiastical
Legal|

| Early Church|

* Jesus Christ
* Ministry
* Crucifixion
* Resurrection
* Great Commission
* Apostles
* Succession
* Petrine primacy
* Church Fathers
* Apostolic Fathers
* History of the papacy
* Primacy

|

Great Church|

* Ante-Nicene period
* Constantine
* First seven ecumenical councils
* Nicaea I
* Chalcedon
* Late antiquity
* Biblical canon
* Monasticism

Middle Ages|

* Islamic conquests
* Pope Gregory I
* Papal States
* Schism (1054)
* Investiture Controversy
* Crusades
* Schism (1378)
* Inquisition
* Universities
* Scholasticism
* Age of Discovery

Modern era|

* Protestantism
* Protestant Reformation
* Catholic Reformation
* Trent
* Thirty Years' War
* Enlightenment
* French Revolution
* Nazism
* Vatican II
* Communism
* Sexual abuse scandal
* Islam
* COVID-19 pandemic

Theology
Bible
Tradition
Catechism|

| General|

* God
* Trinity
* Kingdom
* Body
* Divine grace
* Dogma
* Nicene Creed
* Original sin
* Saints
* Salvation
* Sermon on the Mount
* Ten Commandments
* Vulgate
* Official Bible
* Sixtine Vulgate
* Sixto-Clementine Vulgate
* Nova Vulgata
* Worship

|

Ecclesiology|

* Communitas perfecta
* Councils
* Ecumenism
* Four marks
* One true church
* Catholic
* Infallibility
* Mystici Corporis Christi
* People of God
* Three states
* Subsistit in
* In canon law

Sacraments|

* Baptism
* Confirmation
* Eucharist
* Penance
* Anointing of the Sick
* Last rites
* Holy orders
* Matrimony

Mariology|

* Assumption
* History
* Immaculate Conception
* Mariology of the popes
* Mariology of the saints
* Mother of God
* Perpetual virginity
* Veneration
* See also:
* Josephology

Philosophy|

* Natural law
* Moral theology
* Personalism
* Social teaching
* Philosophers
* Philosophy of canon law
* See also:
* Science
* Evolution
* Separation of church and state
* Relations
* Politics

Saints|

* Holy Family
* Mary
* Joseph
* Patriarchs
* Prophets
* Archangels
* Martyrs
* Doctors of the Church
* Evangelists
* Confessors
* Disciples
* Virgins

Organisation
Hierarchy
Canon law
Laity
Precedence
By country|

| Holy See
(List of popes)|

* Pope Leo XIV
* Ecumenical councils
* College of Cardinals
* List
* Advisers
* Roman Curia
* Dicasteries
* Synod of Bishops
* Properties

|

Vatican City|

* Index
* Outline
* Apostolic Palace
* Lateran Treaty
* Roman Rota
* St. Peter's Basilica
* Swiss Guard
* Vatican Museums

Polity (Holy orders)|

* Diocese
* Episcopal conference
* Eparchy
* Bishop
* Patriarch
* Major
* Primate
* Metropolitan
* Archbishop
* Diocesan
* Coadjutor
* Auxiliary
* Titular
* Emeritus
* Parish
* Priest
* Deacon

Consecrated life|

* Religious:
* Superior
* Abbot, Abbess
* General
* Provincial
* Prior, Prioress
* Grand master
* Brother
* Friar
* Monk
* Sister
* Nun
* Hermit
* Novice
* Master
* Oblate
* Postulant

Particular churches
sui iuris|

* Latin Church
* Eastern Catholic Churches
* Albanian
* Armenian
* Belarusian
* Bulgarian
* Chaldean
* Coptic
* Croatian and Serbian
* Eritrean
* Ethiopian
* Georgian
* Greek
* Hungarian
* Italo-Albanian
* Macedonian
* Maronite
* Melkite
* Romanian
* Russian
* Ruthenian
* Slovak
* Syriac
* Syro-Malabar
* Syro-Malankara
* Ukrainian

Catholic liturgy|

* Eastern Catholic liturgy
* Alexandrian
* Antiochian
* Armenian
* Byzantine
* East Syriac
* West Syriac
* Malankara
* Latin
* Ambrosian
* Braga
* Mozarabic
* Roman
* Paul VI
* Tridentine
* Anglican
* Zaire

Culture|

* Art
* Marian
* Artists
* Writers
* Church buildings
* Altarpieces
* Folk
* Library
* Museums
* Music
* Distinctions
* Role in civilisation
* See also:
* Criticism of the Catholic Church
* Anti-Catholicism

Media|

* Holy See Press Office
* Vatican Media
* Vatican News
* Vatican Television Center
* Vatican Radio
* Vatican Press [it]
* L'Osservatore Romano
* Acta Apostolicae Sedis
* Annuario Pontificio

Religious orders,
institutes, societies|

* Assumptionists
* Annonciades
* Augustinians
* Basilians
* Benedictines
* Bethlehemites
* Blue nuns
* Camaldoleses
* Camillians
* Carmelites
* Carthusians
* Cistercians
* Clarisses
* Conceptionists
* Crosiers
* Dominicans
* Franciscans
* Good Shepherd Sisters
* Hieronymites
* Jesuits
* Legionaries
* Mercedarians
* Minims
* Olivetans
* Oratorians
* Piarists
* Premonstratensians
* Redemptoristines
* Servites
* Theatines
* Trappists
* Trinitarians
* Visitandines

Associations
of the faithful|

* Confraternities
* Lay
* Marian
* Youth
* Workers
* Third orders
* Saint Dominic
* Lay Carmelites
* Discalced
* Saint Francis
* Secular
* Military orders
* Fimcap
* Catholic Action
* Charismatic Renewal
* Communion and Liberation
* Sant'Egidio
* Focolare
* International Alliance of Catholic Knights
* Scouting
* Legion of Mary
* Neocatechumenal Way
* Opus Dei
* Schoenstatt

Charities|

* Aid to the Church in Need
* Caritas
* Catholic Charities USA
* Home Missions
* Relief Services
* CIDSE
* Pax Christi
* Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

* See also:
* Health care
* Schools
* Universities

* Catholic Church portal
* Category

* v
* t
* e

History of the Catholic Church

General|

* History of the Catholic Church
* By country or region
* Ecclesiastical history
* Timeline
* Papacy
* Papal primacy
* Catholic ecumenical councils
* First seven
* Catholic Bible
* Biblical canon
* Vulgate
* Crusading movement
* History of the Roman Curia
* Religious institutes
* Christian monasticism
* Catholic culture
* Art
* Role in civilization
* Vatican City
* Papal States
* Latin Church
* Eastern Catholic Churches

Early Church
(30–325/476)|

| Origins and
Apostolic Age (30–100)|

* Jesus
* Ministry
* Crucifixion
* Resurrection
* Great Commission
* Holy Spirit
* Mary
* John the Baptist
* Apostles in the New Testament
* Commissioning
* Peter
* John
* Paul
* Stephen
* Council of Jerusalem
* Split with Judaism
* New Testament
* Background
* Gospels
* Acts
* Pauline epistles
* General epistles
* Revelation

|

Ante-Nicene period (100–325)|

* Persecution
* Church Fathers
* Apostolic Fathers
* Pope Clement I
* Polycarp
* Ignatius
* Irenaeus
* Justin Martyr
* Canon
* Tertullian
* Origen

Late antiquity
(313–476)|

| Great Church
(180–451)
Roman
state church
(380–451)|

* Constantine the Great
* Christianity
* Arian controversy
* Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran
* Old St. Peter's Basilica
* First Council of Nicaea
* Pope Sylvester I
* First Council of Constantinople
* Biblical canon
* Jerome
* Vulgate
* Council of Ephesus
* Council of Chalcedon

|

Early Middle Ages|

* Benedict of Nursia
* Monasticism
* Second Council of Constantinople
* Pope Gregory I
* Gregorian chant
* Third Council of Constantinople
* Saint Boniface
* Byzantine Iconoclasm
* Second Council of Nicaea
* Charlemagne
* Pope Leo III
* Fourth Council of Constantinople
* East–West Schism

High Middle Ages|

* Pope Urban II
* Investiture Controversy
* Clash against the empire
* Crusades
* Universities
* Scholasticism
* First Council of the Lateran
* Second Council of the Lateran
* Third Council of the Lateran
* Pope Innocent III
* Latin Empire
* Francis of Assisi
* Fourth Council of the Lateran
* Inquisition
* First Council of Lyon
* Second Council of Lyon
* Bernard of Clairvaux

Late Middle Ages|

* Thomas Aquinas
* Pope Boniface VIII
* Western Schism
* Avignon Papacy
* Pope Clement V
* Council of Vienne
* Knights Templar
* Catherine of Siena
* Pope Alexander VI
* Age of Discovery

Protestant Reformation
Counter-Reformation

* Protestant Reformation
* Catholic Counter-Reformation
* Exsurge Domine
* Dissolution of the monasteries
* Council of Trent
* Thomas More
* Pope Leo X
* Society of Jesus
* Ignatius of Loyola
* Francis Xavier
* Pope Pius V
* Tridentine Mass
* Teresa of Ávila
* John of the Cross
* Peter Canisius
* Philip Neri
* Robert Bellarmine
* European wars of religion
* Thirty Years' War

Baroque period to the
French Revolution

* Pope Innocent XI
* Pope Benedict XIV
* Suppression of the Society of Jesus
* Age of Enlightenment
* Anti-clericalism
* Pope Pius VI
* Shimabara Rebellion
* Edict of Nantes
* Dechristianization of France during the French Revolution

19th century|

* Pope Pius VII
* Pope Pius IX
* United States
* Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
* Our Lady of La Salette
* Our Lady of Lourdes
* First Vatican Council
* Papal infallibility
* Pope Leo XIII
* Mary of the Divine Heart
* Prayer of Consecration to the Sacred Heart
* Rerum novarum

20th century|

* Pope Pius X
* Our Lady of Fátima
* Persecutions of the Catholic Church and Pius XII
* Pope Pius XII
* Pope Pius XII 1942 consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
* Dogma of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
* Lateran Treaty
* Nazi Germany
* Mit brennender Sorge
* Pope John XXIII
* Pacem in terris
* Second Vatican Council
* Ecumenism
* Judaism
* Pope Paul VI (coronation)
* Pope John Paul I
* Mother Teresa
* USSR
* Pope John Paul II
* HIV/AIDS
* World Youth Day
* 1995

21st century|

* Sexual abuse scandal
* Islam
* World Youth Day
* 2000
* 2002
* 2005
* 2008
* 2011
* 2013
* 2016
* 2019
* 2023
* Pope Benedict XVI
* Pope Francis
* Laudato si'
* Patriarch Kirill
* COVID-19 pandemic
* Pope Leo XIV

* Vatican City portal
* Catholicism portal

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* Spain
* Poland
* Vatican
* Israel

People|

* Italian People
* Deutsche Biographie
* DDB

*[c.]: circa
*[r.]: reigned
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template